Murder The Dawn: Chapter Eight: Bittersweet Reunion

[ladyofleithian]

In which Obi-Wan and Anakin meet up with Satine again, and we get more of a glimpse into Anakin's thoughts.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Notes: Hope I got Satine and, well, everyone okay for this chapter.

“You reset the coordinates!” Even now, Obi-Wan sounded more on edge than usual – fortunately, considering Obi-Wan, said agitation came out as slight terseness, a tightness in his voice that still managed to communicate, to Anakin at least, that deciding to do something like this was, to put it mildly, quite a bad plan. “What were you thinking?”

Even standing there, Anakin felt bashful. Despite the fact that he was (technically) an adult now, Obi-Wan still had a bizarre talent for making him feel like he was nine years old again.

“Sorry, Master,” Anakin said, “I just thought we’d get back to Coruscant…quicker that way.”

“Ah. I see.” Even now, though, Obi-Wan didn’t seem to be convinced – indeed, he had quirked one of his eyebrows in one of his patented what-the-stang-were-you-thinking expressions. “Tell me, Anakin: do you make a point in complicating everything by mistake?”

“Well,” Anakin said, “At least we’d get back to Coruscant quicker – ’’

It was only then that the communications console rang. Anakin checked it. “It seems we’ve got a message from Duchess Satine,” he said. “You should check it out.”

“Patch it in.” Obi-Wan still sounded terse, though.

As Anakin did so, and Satine’s hologram came into view, Anakin could not help but notice that, somehow, Satine was even more beautiful than he remembered. He still had warm memories of her, memories that managed to keep him warm when he was away at the Jedi Temple

which wasn’t an easy existence. other than the temple droids (and maybe Obi-Wan, and a few Jedi Padawans) he couldn’t say he had many friends to go to in order to assuage the loneliness

but even so…

He hadn’t expected her to remain this lovely. He swallowed past the lump in his throat, tried to make himself appear as composed as possible – not an easy task.

“Duchess Satine,” Obi-Wan said – if anything, he seemed to be mastering this whole composure business better than Anakin – Anakin almost couldn’t help but envy him for it. “It’s wonderful to see you again, my lady.”

“And you as well, Obi-Wan.” Satine then turned to look at Anakin. “Annie? You’ve grown since you were away.”

“I…thank you. So…so have you. Grown more…beautiful I mean.” He could feel Obi-Wan’s reproving glance, and he tried to amend himself – to no success. “Well…for a…Duchess that is.”

Fortunately, Satine laughed – it was, indeed, a good thing that Satine was, fundamentally, quite a kind soul underneath what most dubbed the “Ice Queen” persona. Anakin had gotten into more than a few arguments with those who disagreed with Satine’s more pacifist tactics – while he wouldn’t call himself a pacifist himself

if anything, he preferred the more aggressive of negotiations – when in doubt, pull out the lightsaber. much to Obi-Wan’s disapproval, of course, but then again, when had Obi-Wan approved of anything he did – and Anakin found himself cutting that thought off at the pass. He didn’t want to think that about Obi-Wan, even if it was true.

there was something about those who mocked Satine’s more pacifistic ways that, somehow, angered him.

“And you have still retained your candor,” she said, a faint smile upon her face. She then grew more somber. “I am glad that both you and Master Kenobi have returned. There was an assassination attempt today.”

“What? That’s awful!” But deep down, Anakin thought, it probably wasn’t a surprise – awful, yes, but considering some of the unrest in certain places regarding Satine’s decisions during the Trade Federation’s occupation of Mandalore, perhaps he should have seen this coming.

If we had returned sooner…

It was fortunate that Satine was unharmed. More than fortunate, really.

“I know,” Satine said. “You and Master Kenobi…meet me in Five Hundred Republica. Then we shall discuss the matter further.”

“Of course, my lady. Skywalker out.”

Once the communication ended, Obi-Wan turned to look at him. “Do you make a point out of saying the first thing that comes to mind?”

“I’m sorry,” Anakin said. “I just…it was idiotic of me, Master. I’m sorry.”

“Very well. Don’t do that again. And for that matter…next time you try to arrange a ‘shortcut’ back to Coruscant…talk to me first.”

“Yes, Master.”

They remained in silence for the remaining trip to Five Hundred Republica. Anakin’s cheeks burned in embarrassment and, for a moment, he could not help but dislike Obi-Wan. Jealous hypocritical son of a murglak –

But then again, it wasn’t fair. After all, Obi-Wan was doing the best he could. He was no doubt still shaken by Qui-Gon’s death, and condemning him for that was far from fair.

Still, Anakin could not help but wish Obi-Wan could only realize how hard he was trying.

Perhaps he never would.

Comments

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

A nice chapter. :)

Obi-Wan comes across as more conflicted / easily agitated in this AU, while Anakin comes across as a bit calmer.

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

That's very interesting! :D I'll confess I never really noticed that. :)

[angel-in-tears.livejournal.com]

Hee. Poor Anakin. He's so dorky and cute. But I love that last line, that desperation of him wanting to please Obi-Wan, of wanting to try!

(FINALLY CATCHING UP, YAY! Lol!)

[ladyhadhafang.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D And yeah...I know what you mean. :)